What does Kang mean?
Kang is commonly the character 康, “health, peace, well-being.”
What does Chen mean?
Chen is commonly the character 晨, “morning, dawn,” among other characters.
Kang vs Chen
Which is more popular?
Kang and Chen are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Kang | Chen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Health, well-being (康) | Morning, dawn (晨) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KAHNG | CHUN |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1981 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 2000 (7) | 1983 (9) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Kang
Chen
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Kang | Chen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 22 |
| 2010s | 5 | 55 |
| 2000s | 12 | 50 |
| 1990s | 16 | 39 |
| 1980s | 11 | 20 |
| 1970s | 0 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kang or Chen more popular?
Kang and Chen are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Kang and Chen?
Kang means Health, well-being (康) (Chinese origin), while Chen means Morning, dawn (晨) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Kang or Chen?
In US records, Kang first appears in 1981 and Chen in 1977, so Chen has the longer recorded history.